PITTSBURGH — Players, coaches and the more than 60,000 fans inside Heinz Field shortly before Sunday's 1 p.m. game received no information before the game that U.S. air strikes had begun over Afghanistan.

        It wasn't until halftime, when President Bush's address to the nation was played tape-delayed on the stadium's videoboard, that people learned the United States and its allies had begun military action.

        Fans watched the board quietly during the president's speech and cheered loudly when he finished. Some Bengals and Steelers players watched, too, while others went about warming up for the second half.

        “We heard about it at halftime,” Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said after the Steelers' 16-7 victory. “We talked about it in the huddle. We needed to stick together like a family. It puts a lot of things into perspective, and that's why I wanted to make sure that it was addressed so we could do what we needed to do and go play football.”

        Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who has been appointed U.S. Director of Homeland Security, a cabinet position created by President Bush in the wake of the Sept.11 attacks, addressed the crowd before the game. But his remarks were about the opening of the new stadium and didn't mention the raids on Afghanistan.

        The U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force presented classes of new recruits who took the oath of active duty immediately before kickoff.

        SLIPPERY SITUATION: Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna and Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart both commented after the game how slippery the game balls were.

        Kitna said about 60 commemorative balls for the inaugural game at Heinz Field were used, but not one of them was properly rubbed down.

        “The ball was about as slippery as it gets,” said Stewart, who lost one of the two Steelers fumbles that were recovered by the Bengals.

        Said Kitna, who didn't fumble but was intercepted once: “They tend to be pretty slick. It looked like they came right out of the bag.”

        TD PASSES: Kitna's 1-yard touchdown pass to Lorenzo Neal was his fifth of the season. Akili Smith and Scott Mitchell combined for six last season.

        Kitna also threw his fourth interception, although wide receiver Chad Johnson said he ran the incorrect route. Kitna threw 19 in Seattle last season. Mitchell and Smith threw 14.

        BUS RUNS ON: Steelers running back Jerome Bettis became the 14th player to rush for 10,000 yards. Bettis is third among active rushers behind Dallas' Emmitt Smith (15,349) and Seattle's Ricky Watters (10,516).

        Bettis had 103 yards rushing in 12 attempts in the first half alone and ended with 153 on 23 carries.

        WHAT A RUSH: The Steelers' 274 rushing yards Sunday were their most since they ran for 305 yards Dec.18, 1988, against the Dolphins.

        The Bengals allowed 200-plus yards rushing just once last season, 203 in their 23-14 loss at home against Tennessee.

        The Bengals came into Sunday's game ranked 10th in the league against the rush at 88.3 yards a game. That average swelled to 134.75 after Sunday.

        “We allowed Jerome to do his thing, and we just put that back on ourselves,” Bengals defensive end Vaughn Booker said. “It was missed assignments, missed tackles. Those are fundamental things you've got to do against a running back as good as Jerome Bettis.”

        BRAHAM BETTER: Center Rich Braham, who had one doctor tell him to have season-ending surgery on a herniated neck disc this past week, said after the game he felt “99 percent” better than last week at San Diego.

        Braham played all 55 offensive snaps. Backup center Brock Gutierrez was one of four Bengals who didn't play.

        BENGALS CONNECTION: Pittsburgh's new Heinz Field bears the name of the Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz Company. The president and CEO of the global food company is William R. Johnson, son of former Bengals coach Bill “Tiger” Johnson (1976-78).

        MORE CONNECTIONS: Several Bengals players started their NFL careers with the Steelers. Offensive linemen John Jackson and Jamain Stephens, defensive tackle Oliver Gibson and wide receiver Danny Farmer were Steelers draft choices. Farmer was Pittsburgh's fourth-round choice in 2000 but was released after training camp and signed by the Bengals.

        Bengals coach Dick LeBeau was a Steelers assistant and defensive coordinator for five seasons, and Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski coached Steelers wide receivers in 1999 and 2000.

        INJURY REPORT: Linebacker Adrian Ross missed the second half with a strained right quad. He is questionable for Sunday's home game against Cleveland. Linebacker Riall Johnson is probable with a rib injury.

        Starting defensive tackle Tony Williams was taken for X-rays on his sprained foot in the first half but returned to the game. He is probable for Cleveland.

        Safety Darryl Williams is probable with a foot injury. He had one tackle against the Steelers.

        INACTIVES: Bengals inactives for Sunday were Stephens, running back Rudi Johnson, Riall Johnson, defensive end Jevon Langford, guard Victor Leyva, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and defensive tackle Mario Monds. Smith was the emergency third quarterback for the third consecutive game.

        ATTENDANCE: The crowd of 62,335 in the first game at Heinz Field was the largest in Steelers history, bettering a draw of 61,545 on Jan.15, 1995, at Three Rivers Stadium in the AFC Championship game against San Diego.

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